We, the Board and Staff of Race on the Agenda (ROTA) note that the Impact Assessment of the Renters’ Rights Bill addresses rental discrimination against tenants receiving benefits or having children. The Bill rightly seeks to make it unlawful for landlords to discriminate on these grounds.
However, it is crucial to emphasise that discrimination based on race remains a significant and well-documented issue within the rental housing sector in the UK. Research conducted by Race on the Agenda (ROTA) and Heriot-Watt University in their 2022 State of the Nation Report highlights the stark inequalities marginalised communities face. The report found that Black people in the UK are over three times more likely to experience homelessness than white people. It also identified persistent barriers to accessing secure and affordable housing for Black and other Global Majority communities, as well as Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller (GRT) groups.
In addition, the Runnymede Trust’s 2020 research showed that over 25% of Black and Asian renters reported experiencing racial discrimination when attempting to rent a home, compared to fewer than 10% of white renters. Shelter’s findings also revealed that ethnic minority tenants are three times more likely to be turned down by landlords than white tenants with comparable financial circumstances. These systemic inequalities place marginalised groups at greater risk of housing insecurity and homelessness.
It is, therefore, deeply concerning that the Impact Assessment fails to address race-based rental discrimination. This omission overlooks the significant barriers faced by Black and Global Majority communities and perpetuates inequalities within London and across the UK housing market. As the Renters’ Rights Bill progresses through Parliament (currently at the Second Reading stage), the government must take steps to address this critical issue.
By failing to include explicit provisions to tackle race-based discrimination, the Bill risks undermining its goal of fostering a fair and inclusive housing system by failing to include explicit provisions to tackle race-based discrimination.
Without strong measures addressing systemic race discrimination in housing, including a robust enforcement framework, to address these systemic inequalities, the disparities documented in reports such as the ROTA-Heriot-Watt State of the Nation Report will persist, leaving many vulnerable to continued discrimination and precarious housing situations.
We strongly urge the government to ensure the Renters’ Rights Bill explicitly prohibits race-based discrimination in the rental market. This should be supported by robust mechanisms for enforcement and accountability, ensuring landlords cannot continue discriminatory practices. The evidence is clear: Black and Global Majority communities, as well as Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller groups, must be protected from entrenched inequalities within the UK rental sector. Addressing this omission is a matter of fairness and a vital step towards achieving a housing system that works for everyone.
References:
- State of the Nation Report, Heriot-Watt University & ROTA (2022): Black people are over three times more likely to experience homelessness. Access the report here.
- Runnymede Trust (2020): Ethnic Disparities in Housing Discrimination.
Shelter (2021):Ethnic Disparities in Renting in the UK.
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